GAMES AND PLAYERS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27374, 12 June 1954, Page 9

GAMES AND PLAYERS

ATHLETIC SPORTS

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MILES]

The Charm of Rugby Rugby football as played by Mapri teams has a charm all its own and in the South Island all too little is seen of these mqif on the Rugby field. As against the hard rugged win-at-any-price style of play adopted in so many club, provincial and international matches, the Maori’s approach to Rugby is light-hearted and with him it is a game to be enjoyed and the greater the risk the more enjoyment he seems to get out of it. For a time during the South Island MaorisCanterbury sub-unions match at Rugby Park on Wednesday spectators were treated to a display of Rugby at its best when the Maoris gave full reign to their care-free enthusiasm and amazed many regular attendants by their long low, accurate passing and splendid backing up which can only be gained by real team work. Many of their movements were extremely risky but just when a ball appeared to be thrown nowhere in particular there was a Maori back or forward racing in to the pass. The display, short-lived as it was, was all the more creditable because the team had only been got together that morning and the first scrum practice was held quarter of an hour before the game started. After a game against the North Island Maoris a team to visit Fiji will be picked and though these New Zealanders may find the home team a bit too powerful their style of football will appeal. The pity of it is that the example set in the style of football played by the Maoris is not followed by more club teams. That Shield

Keen trotting enthusiasts who listened to broadcasts at Hutt Park last Monday were entertained in between races by Winston McCarthy who was operating at Athletic Park. Late in the afternoon came the information that the Wellington A team had been beaten by Manawatu at Palmerston North. This news was quietly received, but when McCarthy said: “Another item of news: West Coast 3 Canterbury nil, and it wasn’t for the shield either,” there appeared to be much jubilation which goes to suggest that the Wellington-Canter-bury Ranfurly Shield rumpus is not doing anything to cement friendly relation in all branches of the game. Clancy

To the calls of “Lower the boom Clancy,” and “Clancy of the Overflow,” Eddie Clancy, described in the advertisements as the “Fighting Irishman,” failed in his bout against Charlie Beaton (Australia) at the Civic Theatre on Monday. Beaton is a boxer pure and simple and was clever enough on his feet and wise enough to evade all Clancy’s ideas of toe-to-toe fighting. Taller and with a longer reach than Clancy, Beaton decreed his own style of carrying on the contest. In defeat Clancy lost none of his admirers and his bout with the Australian Doug. Brown in a week or two is being looked forward to. “Bob Stuart’s All Blacks”

“Bob Stuart’s All Blacks” is the title of a book written by Terry McLean, correspondent with the All Blacks on last year’s tour, which is expected to be published next month. In an advance notice the publishers, A. H. and A. W. Reed, say: “Previous books have described the matches in great detail but have tended tp overlook the personalities as well as the abilities of the players (this occupies 27 pages in McLean’s book), to omit unfavourable references to individuals, to avoid controversy or criticism in so far as it affected the All Blacks, and generally to paint a rosier picture than was often the actual case.” A Wellington View ’

“Of all Rugby results during the Queen’s Birthday week-end possibly none excited more interest than those of Canterbury against Buller and West Coast,” writes “Corinthian” in the “Dominion.” He continues: “A 13-5 win and a loss 3-0 do not point well to Canterbury’s Ranfurly Shield prospects later in the season. This year’s side which played Buller and W’est Coast appeared to contain the best Canterbury could field and the results must raise doubts whether the shield can be held for long. Waikato, on the other hand, began with a convincing win over Auckland. Theirs is the fourth shield challenge bf the season, and might well be the most crucial of the series.” All this is probably wishful thinking and the Wellington writer may see a different fifteen when the Canterbury team steps out against Southland on August 14. The two games on the West Coast and especially the defeat at Greymouth, will do the Canterbury team a world of good. “It will be the best thing that could happen,” said a man closely connected with the Canterbury team the night before the West Coast game. It would show them they are not so good as they think they are.” Whether R. Duff or N. Dalzell will have had enough hard football to qualify them for places is a question but the absence of S. F. Hill and K. Meates from the touring *team is accounted for. An attack of influenza stopped Hill from going to the Coast while Meates attended a conference at Wellington during, the week-end. The chastening lesson given Canterbury will make the players keener than ever for they know that there are others willing-to fill their places as soon as there is any loss of form. The rest of the worry may be left to the selectors Jack Rankin and Duncan White.

Hurley Shield Today most of the senior teams will complete the first round of the Hurley Shield competition. After today,' for the top six it will be a continuation of the shield series, but for the remainder it will be a new competition as a second division. The present state of the teams allows only three certainties in the championship grade. They are Nomads, Technical and Western, which are well clear of their nearest rivals. For the remaining three places Shamrock and Atlantis have 12 points, Thisle 10 and City 9. Shamrock and City have however an extra game to play. Shamrock, though doubtful as a winner against Western, should do well against Atlantis today. This is a critical game for both teams and the winner can be sure of a place in the first six. However, City plays Wigram today and then University, and two wins could give this club a place.- The Thistle eleven has come with its usual late run and plays Sydenham Rovers today. A win would further cloud the issue and it may not be surprising if goal averages have to be taken into’ account in the final division of the grade. The decision of the New Zealand Football Association to hold the North v. South Island game here Will fill the last remaining date in the Canterbury Jubilee list of first clas fixtures for the month of July. They are now: Local final of the Chatham Cup competition: July 10: North Island v. South Island; July 17: Otago v. Canterbury (Jones Cup); July 24: Wellington v. Canterbury; July 31: New Zealand v. Overseas Born. Many Penalties

“It has.been claimed many times in recent years that the restrictions imposed by the laws of Rugby are spoiling the game for the players and the spectator,” writes “Onlooker” in the “Southland Times.” “There may be merit in the claim, but from displays in some of the games on Rugby Park this season, it is clear that the players themselves are spoiling the game because they do not know the rules. That certainly was the impression gained from games at the week-end. On Saturday and on Monday the main games of the afternoon were crippled by stoppages for infringements. Two and three stops a minute were recorded in these games.” Southland is not the only province affected, for in one match at Athletic Park, Wellington, last Saturday, there were 28 penalties. 40 scrums and 82 line-outs. In the Canterbury-West Coast game 33 penalties were awarded. 22 against Canterbury and 11 West Coast.

A Grim Reminder A grim prophecy for Canterbury was provided by the result of the match against West Coast, says a Greymouth writer. Twice previously Canterbury has been beaten by West Coast after winning the Ranfurly Shield at the end of the previous season. On both occasions Canterbury subsequently lost the shield to an early challenger. Monday’s match was the twenty-first between Canterbury and West Coast, but it appeared to be the home team which came of age. Badminton

A record total of about 500 players, belonging to 21 clubs, will take part in the Canterbury Badminton Association’s competitions this season. Throughout the year, a mixed team from Canterbury will conapete with the representatives of other South Island provinces for the Neill Trophy. At the end of the season, the best South Island team will play the best North Island team for the Wisden Cup. The standard of badminton in Canterbury has improved steadily since the war, and last year Canterbury was runner-up in the South Island. Boots

What is a football boot? The ques- J tion was raised at the last meeting of | the Auckland Rugby League because « of a report that in a game last Satqr- J day the winning try was scored by a j “flyer” who wore sandshoes. This, it was claimed, was an unfair advantage. I] The chairman, Mr D. A. Wilkie, waited j momentarily for an answer to his query as to the correct ruling on what ; a player must wear according to the ’ rules of the game. Eventually, Mr P. « Rogers, the referees’ delegate, said that || a football boot, according to the laws H of the game, was a boot without pro- a truding nails. The rule did not say that one could not wear sandshoes. | Mr Wilkie: Someone will have to take i| up the question on a much higher ; authority than the Auckland League H to decide in a more definite degree as 1 to what is a “football boot.” Empire Games Road Race

Starting and finishing on a level , straightaway, the Cycle Road Race for the British Empire Games will traverse one of the toughest courses- in Vancouver next August 7, says a newsletter published by the British Empire , Games Society. Something over six miles around, the course selected is in the west end of the city, not far from Empire Village and the University of British Columbia. Including the start and finish stretches, nine circuits will be necessary to complete the course. One long, hard hill an£ several shorter 1 pitches uphill will face the competitors. Despite the inclines, they are 1 expected to complete the entire course ; in something over two hours. At the last British Empire and Common- 1 wealth Games, 15 laps were necessary to complete the course. In Vancouver, the race will start on Broadway, a wide paved street. It then will travel west to Alma road, left one city block to 10th Avenue and thence west, up a hill nearly half a mile in length, and to the gates of the University Endowment Lands. Then it proceeds along the University boulevard to Acadia street, almost on the edge of the university’s campus. It swings north to a tricky, reverse corner at Marine drive, which skirts the shore line of English Bay, entrance way to Vancouver’s harbour. Following Marine drive east almost at sea-levet, the course finally swings south on a slight up-grade back to 10th Avenue. On the final circuit, the cyclists will swing east at Broadway and Highbury for the spurt to the finish Ijne at Trutch street. Rugby Jottings

G. W. Nelson, captain of the West Coast team, ha§ played for the union for the last 10 years. He played his seventy-fifth game for the West Coast against Canterbury last Monday and has played in 80 first-class matches. Injuries suffered by Derek Mayo and Bob Blick in the match against Belfast last week, are worrying the Old Boys’ team, which is to play Technical, co-leader in the senior competition, today. Both are expected to play, however.

The South Island team to meet ’ North Island at Lancaster Park next 1 Saturday is expected to be announced ; during the week-end. Tommy Jackson, Technical Old Boys* ’ full-back, seems likely to get his 100 ‘ points early this season. In the seven 1 matches played, Jackson has increased 1 his lead over D. Mayo (Old Boys) by eight points. Last, Saturday Jackson i kicked a penalty goal and two con- I versions, to bring his total points for ! the season to 63. Mayo kicked a penalty goal to take his points to 55. Mayo has scored three tries for Old Boys ! this season. Rugby In The Country

“Rural fervour for Rugby was exhibited to an astonishing degree at Sanson when a game was played in aid of the Manawatu Evergreens Club, the equivalent of the Auckland Barbarians, and Wellington Centurions,” says the “Evening Post.” “The normal lure of the national game was heightened by the inclusion in the Evergreens team of players whom country folk know well by name and repute but rarely have the opportunity to see. As a result there was a crowd estimated at 6000. The sum of £5OO was taken at the gate from an admission price of 2s 6d. Few unofficial matches in New Zealand can have drawn patronage from such a wide area. It was not without trials and tribulations that the fixture was staged. Objection to Sunday play led to keen local controversy and explained why Sanson became the venue, even though the ‘home’’ team was drawn from the Oroua Sub-union in the foothills of the Ruahine ranges. It is understood that the promoting club may face a prosecution but the penalty, if any,'is unlikely to make an appreciable dent in the day’s proceeds. Several representative players contributed to the afternoon’s entertainment. Among them were N. A. Langdon, C. J. Loader (Wellington) M. R. O’Connell (Wanganui) R. G. Bowers, V. D. Bevan, G. G. Mexted (Wellington), the former Welshman D. J. Hayward and the All Black K. P. Bagley. After the game the teams and officials were entertained in true country style in the Sanson Hall, where pigs’ «trotters and other delicacies were in liberal supply. Cross-country Running

Bigger entries have been received for the Canterbury cross-country running management committees annual Halswell races next Saturday. With r several teams from Timaru competing, 251 entries have been received for the three grades—seniors, 133; juniors, 63; colts, 55. The senior race of six miles and a quarter looks likely to provide an interesting contest for the individual title, Kerry Williams (Christchurch) is quickly regaining top form after his knee operation, and Jim Daly (Marist) is in serious training for the Empire Games. There are also runners of the calibre of S. Jelley (Olympic), J. K. Macdonald (Olympic), and F. Jarvis (Anglican). Also likely to be in the front group is W. Gaud in (Anglican), who has shown remarkable improvement on last year’s form. Although Christchurch won the block relay on the Queen’s Birthday, Olympic looks first choice for the teams’ contest next Saturday, for it will be greatly strengthened by S. Jelley and E. Stroud, who were not available last Monday. With only one junior race decided, form for thn junior three miles and a quarter event is hard to pick. Although P. G. Huck (Technical) won the Kennett Cup by a large margin there are several capable of extending him over the more rugged Halswell course. The colts will run over a course of a mile and a half.